News Cycle: Greenways & Greenbacks: Economy, health are both beneficiaries

News Cycle: Greenways & Greenbacks: Economy, health are both beneficiaries

Originally published in Connect Savannah on November 21, 2018.

Cyclists following the route of the East Coast Greenway comprised most of the customers at the Creative Catering restaurant in Woodbine last Tuesday, illustrating the significant economic benefit bicycle tourism can bring to Coastal Georgia. - PHOTO BY BRENT BUICE
Cyclists following the route of the East Coast Greenway comprised most of the customers at the Creative Catering restaurant in Woodbine last Tuesday, illustrating the significant economic benefit bicycle tourism can bring to Coastal Georgia. – PHOTO BY BRENT BUICE

“IT’S THE kind of place you’d drive right by in a car and not see unless you were really low on gas.”

That’s the way Lisa Watts described the tiny convenience store at a crossroads north of Woodbine in Camden County. The good news for the proprietor is that she did stop. And so did dozens of folks from around the country traveling with her.

Watts, communications manager for the East Coast Greenway Alliance, was one of 45 people who rode their bicycles from Savannah to Titusville, Fla. last week on the alliances’ “Week a Year Tour,” an annual fundraising ride.

“At least 30 of us stopped to buy cold drinks and snacks,” she said.

That particular convenience store was not the only beneficiary of spending power on two wheels. Creative Catering café in Woodbine also received a visit.

“It was the only place open in the downtown area and we loved the air conditioning as much as anything. While it seemed we were overwhelming the small restaurant, the staff handled it well and the locals were very friendly,” she said.

“In general, we have found Georgians to be kind and receptive and curious.”

Click here to read the full article in Connect Savannah. 

 

Have your say on the Truman Greenway! Comments must be submitted to GDOT by Dec. 14

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Thank you to everyone who attended the Dec. 3 Truman Linear Park Trail Public Information Open House at Jenkins High School. If you weren’t able to attend, you can review the plans for Phase IIA, which connects Lake Mayer Park with DeRenne Avenue on the Chatham County Department of Engineering webpage. You can also read coverage of the meeting from the Savannah Morning News. Long-awaited Truman trail unveiled anew

Please provide your comments to the Georgia Department of Transportation by Monday, Dec. 14, by using any of the following methods:

1. Online at GDOT Public Outreach website.  Follow these steps:

  1. From the menu, select the county in which the proposed project is located and click Go;
  2. Then select Truman Linear Park Trail – Phase II;
  3. Then, click Comment and follow the instructions to leave your comments.

2. Mail in your comment card to Ms. Hiral Patel, P.E., Georgia Department of Transportation, 600 West Peachtree Street NW, 16th Floor, Atlanta, Georgia 30308.

3. Email your comment to: ProjectComments@dot.ga.gov. This is a general mailbox so be sure to include the County, PI Number 0007631 and meeting date in the subject line so that the email gets to the right project team.

It’s important to let GDOT know how important this project is to your family and how you plan to use it. We need strong support from the public to move forward on this important project, which has both recreational and transportation uses. If you need assistance in composing your comments, we’ll be glad to help. Just let us know!